In 2017, approximately 26.9 million Americans age 18 and older reported having vision loss. “Vision loss” refers to having trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses.

The common belief is that people with low vision cannot be helped. However, for most people there are life-changing visual aids that allow them to regain their independence as well as enjoy many tasks they enjoyed before losing their vision. Different people have different needs, and navigating all the options available can be overwhelming. Let us help you find the right low vision device to match your needs and your budget.

Is a handheld device enough for someone with low vision?

All of the low vision devices are designed for specific tasks. Therefore, it really depends on both your vision and what you're trying to achieve. Using a handheld magnifier is an excellent solution to seeing sports scores on a newspaper if you're only looking for something very task-specific, since you won't be looking at the scores for hours. A handheld device lets you get a quick glimpse of something for a brief period of time.

Who is a good candidate for a CCTV system (digital magnification)?

If you need to read something like a magazine article that has different fonts and colors and different lighting depending on where you are sitting, or  you are reading for an extended period of time, then a handheld device may not be adequate. CCTV, or closed circuit television, can provide that comfort of vision to make magnification more comfortable and convenient.

Are there glasses for low vision?

There are many different types of eyeglasses available that can help a person with vision loss. For near tasks such as reading there are magnified reading glasses as well as full diameter microscope glasses. For mid distance vision there are glasses such as maxTV and ESCOOP. For far distance vision, such as seeing signs while driving or watching a show, there are bioptic telescopes. There are many different types of low vision glasses that are designed to enable a patient with vision loss to regain their independence and enjoy the things that vision loss took away from them.

What is the purpose of audiobooks?

It can be a fun experience for bookworms to hear their favorite books read by a talented voice actor. There are many companies that offer audio books online, which can be accessed easily. Audio books can be a good alternative for readers with low vision.